Manchester City is facing deep issues with its team composition ahead of the all-important final phase of the season, and Pep Guardiola looks worried.
The injury news isn’t pleasing to the ears of all the fans with Man City tickets as they face an uphill battle in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
City didn’t have too much to worry about in their game against Luton Town in the Premier League, which will put them in striking distance of another League title, but the fixtures ahead might take a toll on the first team.
Midfielder Rodri pleaded for a rest after their 3-3 draw in the Champions League quarterfinal at Madrid as the team prepares for another Champions League title.
Speaking to the press, Guardiola weighed in on the team’s injury issues.
“Take a look at our games, and you realise,” Guardiola told a news conference Friday on Rodri’s comments. It is simple. He is so important for the quality he gives us. But if you have a player who doesn’t want to play, he won’t play.
The manager also stressed that he would need to rest the centre halves if he did not have the services of John Stones and Kyle Walker. Both Stones and Walker are important cogs in Guardiola’s game plan but have been sidelined due to injuries in the international friendlies.
The gap between Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City is minute. The Cityzens with Man City tickets understand that their team has zero margin for error.
Guardiola could not provide an update on the fitness of Nathan Aké, Phil Foden and Walker on Friday. Foden was forced off late in Tuesday’s draw in Madrid, while Ake and Walker were already sidelined with injuries.
“We’re training this afternoon, and then we’ll know better how they feel,” he said.
On the plus side, Man City tickets regulars will be delighted to see goalkeeper Ederson fully fit and set to reclaim his starting spot.
Ederson will be pivotal if City needs to make it to the semifinals and go beyond Real Madrid.
Haaland extended his goal tally for the season in the Premier League to 20 with a penalty against Luton Town despite facing stiff competition. Haaland has yet to have the best of starts for 2024, with him fumbling on several crucial instances.
But he’s still managed to take on much of the weight for his team.
In the meantime, Kevin De Bruyne’s absence in 2023 deeply hurt the side, and City felt a little lost.
While the Belgian is back with the side, he has yet to play his absolute best.
Guardiola was asked what more his prolific scorer needs to do to win the Ballon d’Or this season after he finished runner-up to Lionel Messi in 2023.
“He needs to play more minutes and learn from what you have to do,” Guardiola said. But the target is not the Ballon d’Or; the target is to win trophies, and he did. Would we have won five trophies last year without him? Not a chance.
“It’s not about Erling or any other player. Until you retire, you can [always] be better.”
City edged 18th-placed Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road in December but dispatched the struggling side from the FA Cup with a 6-2 fifth-round rout in February. The 5-1 win will help them lift their spirits ahead of the Champions League tie.
City Looking for Talent
It’s a rare day when the Citizens aren’t in the headlines for their transfer activity, with money rarely an obstacle for them to overcome. And that looks set to be the case once again this summer.
Reports have already linked Pep Guardiola and his side with moves for Villarreal shot-stopper Filip Jorgensen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz is a special pick that has caught the eye of the City scouts with an impressive Bundesliga season. Xabi Alonso’s side is looking to win their first-ever title and dethrone Bayern Munich’s dominance.
If Manchester City wants to step things up next season, signing the German would go a long way.
They’re not scared of shopping in the Bundesliga, having secured arguably their most important transfer in their history when welcoming Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg in 2015.
It was tagged as an overhyped deal in 2015 by most fans with Man City tickets, but looking at what De Bruyne has achieved, it is safe to say that it was completely worth it.
That £55m deal looks like an undeniable bargain these days. Now, the Etihad reportedly wants to sign another Chelsea academy reject who’s since starred in Germany.
According to TEAMtalk, there are also reports that Manchester City are ready to break the bank in a £120m deal to sign Jamal Musiala from Bayern Munich this summer.
Musiala, a sensation for Bayern, has felt like he doesn’t belong on the Munich side this season despite his incredible achievements at a young age.
With Guardiola’s coaching philosophy, a move for Musiala would be ideal.
The deal would likely be the biggest of the summer whilst also breaking the Citizens’ transfer record, currently held by Jack Grealish.
Fresh from the European Championship, Musiala could slot straight into Guardiola’s side to form one of, if not the best, midfield partnerships with Phil Foden to maintain City’s place at the top of English football.
When the summer window swings open, Musiala is undoubtedly one to watch.
After winning a historic treble last season, Manchester City have suffered a slight dip by their standards in the Premier League, allowing Liverpool and Arsenal to take advantage in pursuit of the title.
Whilst they could still win the treble once again, given their place in the Champions League last eight and the FA Cup semifinal, Guardiola will be keen to regain that dominance next season. Musiala and Foden would also ensure that, especially with Erling Haaland, they would supply and create an unstoppable attacking trio.
One man who will be keeping an eye on Musiala if he completes a move to England is former Liverpool striker Michael Owen, who praised the Bayern Munich star.
